That in itself shows a sea-change in attitude -- which is a good thing. I came of age in the 1950's - 60's, when sporterizing surplus guns was all the rage. The American Rifleman even ran articles on sporterizing M1 Garands, of all things. Nobody would do that now.
Yes, indeed, there has been a sea-change of attitude since the 50's. As a teenager, I spent every spare moment at my friend/mentor's gunsmith shop starting in the 50's soaking up
everything, up to and including the wonderful smell of smoke wafting from his ever present cigar.
RIP Werth.
A standard grade Winchester model 70 sold for $120.95 in 1956; super grade 375 h&h could be had for $179.45, either of which was totally above my part time, after school pay grade. 1903's & 98 Mausers were a dime a dozen; K8 Weavers were $48.50.
When Werth offered to "sell" me a 98 Mauser action, barreled in the brand new 7.62 NATO and bedded in an unshaped, beautiful walnut Bishop stock for his cost for components ($60),
and to oversee my completion of the project while paying him back "any way you are able, but you have to keep the books", what would you have done?
You guessed it,
In the late 50's, NRA made 1903's available:
Being a huge fan of the 03, I rushed an order in and received a brand new rifle in cosmoline. Apparently all were not sold & they offered a second round of sales at yet a cheaper price, so ordered another for something south of $20 ppd (from memory). This (also new) rifle, delivered by USPS, was sealed in a tinfoil package!
Years passed, prices inched up, but mil-surp supplies still seemed endless. This is probably circa mid 60's, as I purchased an M1 for price shown from Klein's. Wish I'd had the money to buy an Enfield Jungle Carbine and a Webley
.
When the 80's rolled around, mil-surp supplies were thinning, prices were inching up, but 03's and various 98's were still readily available. Over the years have traded several 03's/A3's, the last one, bought from a friend for $200, but alas, those days are long gone. When I shot out the barrel in my Mod. 70 target rifle, decided to build a backup/practice rifle from one of several 03A3's I had, one of which had a bad barrel.
Had the shot out Mod 70 barrel cut, rechambered and threaded for the Springfield, extended the bolt handle, installed a Timney trigger and dropped it in a Bishop stock which I shaped to closely duplicate the stock on my Winchester. Bolted a Redfield International sight and, other than slower lock time and a little "stickier" bolt, looking through the Redfields, you were hard pressed to tell which rifle you had in your hands.
Well, there was
one important difference......due to the slower lock time, my offhand shots were always one ring outside my call, relegating it to practice only service, but saving a lot of wear and tear on my #1 rifle at a fraction of the cost of another Mod. 70. Just had to add one point/shot on my offhand practice stages for comparison. No noticeable effect on the supported positions.
Oh, and to lessen criticism for my "Bubbaization" of an A3, I made a good deal on the 03 wood to a fellow who was restoring his rifle which he obtained that had a sporter stock on it.
AlexanderA said:
The American Rifleman even ran articles on sporterizing M1 Garands
As the years flew by even faster, they carried my ability to see iron sights with them. Having begun shooting competition in the service with the Garand in the 50's and years after with my own rifle, it bothered me to see it languishing unused in the safe. I had tuned it to NM standards, with exception of the standard barrel, but all alterations are invisible unless field stripped.
As
@AlexanderA stated, there
has been "a sea-change in attitude", including my own. After much thought I finally figured out how to make a "no drill" mount to replace the rear sight on the Garand that did not interfere with clip loading and ejection, and had one fabricated. Several different optics later, hit on a combination that, while spoiling the Garand's girlish figure, brought her out of the dark and revealed the
true accuracy of my old friend, as only a scope can do.
Two screws and about 5 minutes is all it takes to restore the rifle to as issued NM original condition.
There is something to be said for function, after all.
Regards,
hps
Place worn follower in fixture & measure at point marked with pencil VVV Tap with hammer until arm bent about 1/16" and test fire.
I've never seen a Garand sporter that didn't look wierd. 